Watson was a founding member of the influential Sheffield based experimental music group Cabaret Voltaire during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Since then he has developed a particular and passionate interest in recording the wildlife sounds of animals and habitats from around the world. As a composer and sound recordist Watson specialises in creating spatial sound installations which feature a strong sense and spirit of place.
His television work includes many programmes in the David Attenborough ‘Life’ series including ‘The Life of Birds’ which won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Sound’ in 1996, and as the location sound recordist for the BBC series ‘Frozen Planet’ which also won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Sound’ (2012).
In 2011 Chris received the prestigious Royal Television Society ‘Centre Award’ for the North East & Borders.
Watson has recorded and featured in many BBC Radio 4 and World Service productions including ‘The Wire’ which won him the Broadcasting Press Guild’s Broadcaster of The Year Award (2012). His music is regularly featured on the BBC Radio 3 programme ‘Late Junction’. He has also worked extensively for Irish RTE Radio 1 on series such as ‘Sound Stories’.
Watson’s music is released by the London based label and his publisher ‘Touch’. His CD ‘Weather Report’ was voted as one of the 100 best albums to hear before you die by The Guardian newspaper.
At Krankenhaus, Chris Watson will be presenting an immersive, Lake District-themed audio journey on the main stage in the Barn, entitled “Salmo salar and The Scafell Massif”.
From the source of the river Esk dive in with migrating salmon and follow the flow downstream; Great Moss, Hard Knott, Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass and the trackless North Atlantic. Tune in and be guided on a journey in sound, a migration along an ancient route through the three realms of freshwater, air and ocean.